Mobile software content rating system

A mobile software content rating system is a rating system which is tailored to users of mobile software.

Comparison table

A comparison of current mobile software rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country/system to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.

Key:

  •  White  – No restrictions: Suitable for all ages / Aimed at young audiences / Exempt / Not rated / No applicable rating.
  •  Yellow  – No restrictions: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
  •  Purple  – No restrictions: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
  •  Red  – Restricted: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences. (Not used)
  •  Black  – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.

Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.

Country/System Age rating Other
0/123456789101112131415161718+
App Store 4+ 9+ 12+ 17+ N/A
Google Play (IARC) 3 7 12 16 18 N/A
ACB
 Australia		 G M R 18+ N/A
PG MA 15+
ClassInd
 Brazil		 L 10 12 14 16 18 N/A
ESRB
 USA
 Canada
 Mexico		 E E10+ T M AO RP
EC
GRAC
 South Korea		 ALL 12 15 18 N/A
PEGI
 Europe
 Israel		 3 7 12 16 18 !
7 12 16 18
USK
 Germany		 0 6 12 12 16 18 N/A
Country/System0/123456789101112131415161718+Other
Samsung Galaxy Store ALL 4+ 12+ 15+ 18+ N/A
Huawei AppGallery 3+ 7+ 12+ 16+ 18+ N/A
Amazon Appstore All Ages Mature Adult N/A
Guidance Suggested
Blackberry World G T M A N/A
Common Sense Media N/A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Not Yet Rated
Country/System0/123456789101112131415161718+Other

Existing systems

App Store (iOS/iPadOS)
Main article: App Store (iOS/iPadOS) § Application ratings

Apple's rating system for the App Store follows the following rubric:[1]

  • Rated 4+: Contains no objectionable material.
  • Rated 9+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 9.
  • Rated 12+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 12.
  • Rated 17+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 17.

Apps rated 17+ are prohibited from purchase by younger users.[2]

Google Play

Up until March 17, 2015 Google Play used the following rubric:[3][4]

  • Everyone
  • Low maturity
  • Medium maturity
  • High maturity

Google now uses the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) in most countries not represented by a rating authority, whilst countries or regions with a superimposed video game rating authority continues applying their own ratings where applicable. [5] This includes Americas (except Brazil), where ESRB is imposed, Brazil with ClassInd, Europe and Israel with PEGI, Australia with ACB and South Korea with GRAC. However, a new Google Play Rating system is used exclusively in Russia and for non-gaming apps in South Korea.[6] These ratings include:

  • 3+
  • 7+
  • 12+
  • 16+
  • 18+

In Australia, IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps.[6]

Samsung Galaxy Store
Main article: Samsung Galaxy Store

Huawei AppGallery

Huawei AppGallery developed own rating system. Ratings are: 3+, 7+, 12+, 15+ and 18+[7]

Amazon Appstore

On the Amazon Appstore, "All Ages" is for all ages. "Guidance Suggested" is for recommendation that parents should give guidance to pre-teens/children. "Mature" is recommended to be suitable for mature audiences. "Adult" is advertisements, graphic violence, nudity or other content only suitable for adult audiences.[8]

Blackberry World

The Blackberry appstore as the following ratings:[9]

  • G (General) – All ages
  • T (Teen) – May not be suitable for children under the age of 13
  • M (Mature) – May not be suitable for children under the age of 17
  • A (Adult) – Content that is generally recognized as appropriate only for, or that is legally restricted to, persons at least the age of majority in their region.

CTIA Mobile Application Rating System

The CTIA – The Wireless Association, an industry trade group, collaborated with the ESRB to largely apply ESRB's rating system to mobile devices.[10] It was launched in 2011, with Apple and Google being notable abstentions from subscribing companies.[11]

Common Sense Media
Main article: Common Sense Media
  • 2+
  • 3+
  • 4+
  • 5+
  • 6+
  • 7+
  • 8+
  • 9+
  • 10+
  • 11+
  • 12+
  • 13+
  • 14+
  • 15+
  • 16+
  • 17+
  • 18+

See also

References
  1. "Identifying Your App in iTunes Connect: Set App Ratings". Apple Inc. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. Masna, Aulia (17 July 2009). "App Store rating system raises questions". Macworld. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. "Application Content Ratings". Google Inc.
  4. "Creating Better User Experiences on Google Play". Android Developers Blog. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  5. "About the International Age Rating Coalition". IARC. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  6. Apps & Games content ratings on Google Play
  7. "AppGallery Rating system". Huawei Developers. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  8. Amazon.com: Angry Birds Rio HD (Fire Edition): Appstore for Android (click "guidance suggested" for information on rating system). Archive.
  9. Despicable Me: Minion Rush – BlackBerry World (click "Teen" for information on rating system). Archive.
  10. "CTIA Mobile Application Ratings System with ESRB". ESRB.
  11. Chris Velazco (November 29, 2011). "CTIA And ESRB Debut App Rating System, No Buy-In From Google Or Apple". Techcrunch.
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